KioMedine Knee Injection in Cardiff - Wales

Advanced single-injection treatment for severe knee osteoarthritis

Pro Sports Medicine is introducing KioMedine VS One, a novel intra-articular fluid implant for patients with refractory knee osteoarthritis who remain symptomatic despite standard treatment.

This treatment may be suitable for patients who are:

• On a waiting list for total knee replacement
• Not ready or unwilling to have knee replacement surgery
• Unable to proceed with surgery due to health reasons
• Living with severe knee pain, stiffness and reduced function
• Looking for a non-surgical option to help manage advanced knee osteoarthritis

KioMedine is designed to help reduce knee osteoarthritis symptoms through a single injection into the knee joint.

What is KioMedine?

KioMedine VS One is a sterile, bioabsorbable fluid implant made from carboxymethyl-chitosan, also known as CM-Chitosan. This is a highly purified, animal-free polysaccharide derived from Agaricus bisporus, commonly known as the button mushroom.

Unlike traditional hyaluronic acid injections, KioMedine belongs to a new product class and has a dual-action mechanism designed to support the osteoarthritic joint.

How does KioMedine work?

KioMedine works through two key mechanisms:

1. Improved joint lubrication

In osteoarthritis, the knee joint loses its normal smooth, low-friction movement. KioMedine helps improve lubrication within the joint, aiming to reduce friction, pain and stiffness during movement.

2. Joint protection

KioMedine has free-radical scavenging properties, helping protect natural joint components such as hyaluronic acid from oxidative stress. This may help reduce the damaging inflammatory cycle associated with osteoarthritis.

Who is KioMedine suitable for?

KioMedine may be appropriate for patients withsevere or refractory knee osteoarthritis, including those with:

• Advanced knee OA symptoms
• Patellofemoral joint involvement
• Tricompartmental osteoarthritis
• Higher BMI
• Ongoing pain despite physiotherapy, medication or previous injections
• A stable knee but symptoms severe enough to consider knee replacement

This treatment is particularly relevant for patients who have been told they have severe OA knee, or may need a knee replacement but wish to delay or avoid surgery where clinically appropriate.

Clinical benefits and outcomes

Clinical data from KioMedine research reports:

• Pain relief in many patients within 2 weeks
• Symptom improvement lasting at least 6 months
• WOMAC pain score reduction of 66% in the APROOVE clinical study
• A high responder rate of 76% at 6 months
• In refractory OA patients, a reported 73.5% mean reduction in WOMAC pain score at 12 months
• 93.8% responder rate at 12 months in the 2024 PIONEER clinical study
• 80.6% of total knee replacement eligible candidates had postponed surgery at 9 months after KioMedine injection

What happens after the injection?

Following KioMedine injection, patients are advised to:

• Avoid intense physical activity for 48 hours
• Avoid carrying heavy loads for 48 hours
• Gradually return to normal knee use
• Continue regular, appropriate exercise to maintain strength, mobility and joint health
• It is common in up to 25% of patient to experience post injection flare pain

At Pro Sports Medicine, this injection can be combined with a tailored rehabilitation plan to help maximise strength, movement and confidence.

Possible side effects

Temporary local reactions can occur after intra-articular injections. KioMedine VS One studies have shown up to 25% of patients to experience temporary post injection symptoms

These may include:

• Knee pain
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Warmth
• Pain at the injection site
• Joint effusion
• Synovitis

These reactions are usually transient. The patient leaflet recommends rest, cold compresses and/or compression, with simple pain relief where appropriate. Patients should seek medical advice if symptoms persist beyond one week or significantly worsen.

Why choose Pro Sports Medicine?

At Pro Sports Medicine, knee osteoarthritis care is delivered through a specialist sports medicine pathway combining:

• Consultant-level assessment
• Diagnostic ultrasound where appropriate
• Advanced injection therapies
• Strength and rehabilitation planning
• Elite sport clinical experience
• Evidence-informed knee OA management

KioMedine sits within our Injection Therapy Clinic, alongside PRP, nStride APS, hyaluronic acid and other ultrasound-guided treatments.

Book a KioMedine Knee Osteoarthritis Consultation

If you have severe knee osteoarthritis and are waiting for, delaying or trying to avoid knee replacement surgery, book a specialist assessment at Pro Sports Medicine to discuss whether KioMedine is suitable for you.